She Makes Us Laugh

 

“She makes us laugh, she makes us dream, and she makes us better. Happy Birthday!”–posted on Instagram on April, 19, 2020 by Magnolia about Joanna Gaines.

She Makes Us Laugh? Nope!

Tell the truth. Does Joanna Gaines make you laugh? Put aside the fact that she does so many things well, and then be honest. If I’m honest, I can say, I love her, but never has she made me laugh. Now, Tina Fey, . . . SHE makes me laugh. Remember her rendition of Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live? Hilarious!

From what I know about Joanna Gaines, I’d say that she’d wanna be told something genuine about herself on her birthday. But “she makes us laugh”? Who wrote that? Someone who doesn’t know her, I think.

So, my mind started following this idea after I read the tribute to Joanna Gaines posted by the Magnolia https://magnolia.com/. First, I contemplated whether I thought Joanna would appreciate being told on her birthday that she makes people laugh when that’s not one of her giftings. I saw many episodes of Fixer Upper, my friend.  She’s not funny. Then I started thinking about Tina Fey, who is funny, and then, I thought about me.  What do I wanna be told on my birthday? Then I thought about YOU. What do you wanna be told?

On my birthday, I’d like to be told that I make people laugh. And, since we’re in a pandemic right now, I’m hoping to maybe hear it soon (just in case). You don’t know me very well, but if you did, you’d know why it’s important to me to hear it. Plus, you would definitely say I was funny (not all the time, but no matter). And, on my birthday, it would make sense for you to bring that up. After I stopped crying, I’d say something silly to lighten the moment.

Proof That I Can Make People Laugh

When I was 16, a fellow cheerleader chose me over another girl to be her roommate at camp because I made her laugh. The girl she didn’t choose–oh, yeah, H A T E D me for it. The next year she got her revenge and made sure that I was the one left with no roommate. She was definitely laughing inside (see–there I go again–making someone laugh). This girl was also the one who picked me up and threw me into the pool when she knew I couldn’t swim, . . .–WITCH! (not what I originally wrote, but I don’t want anyone to know that I cuss).

Here’s another example: I write comedy–on purpose.  I’ve always written with the hope of making an audience laugh. My play from 2014 had the theater company in tears during their table read of my script, Live Here, Love Here, Work Here: OM. They had to take a break because they couldn’t speak–they were laughing so hard. I know this because they told me. That was one of the happiest days of my life when I was informed that something I’d written to be intentionally funny actually was.

She Makes Us Dream? Definitely!

Now I’ll continue analyzing what was written by the Magnolia:

The second part of the Instagram post about Joanna Gaines–“She makes us dream”. Yup, Joanna Gaines definitely does that. That’s why I had to stop watching her show. So much dreaming and not enough doing was making me crazy. When I watched Fixer Upper, I dreamed a lot of things–that I lived on a farm, that I was a designer, that I could look good in flannel shirts, and that I could dictate to a carpenter what my vision was for a house and watch it get done. But none of that was my reality. I live in the suburbs. I’m not a designer but love to decorate my house and demand an unlimited budget from my husband. When I wear flannel,  I look boxy because my body is shaped like a rectangle. Finally, every time I get a design idea for the house, my husband gets angry with me for watching home improvement shows.

Another dream Joanna gave me was to remodel. But instead of remodeling our old house, we bought a new one. I decided not to go with a farm like Joanna and Chip Gaines because I didn’t wanna have to own a gun to kill bobcats that might be casing my land. It happens! Happened to my friends in Lytle, Texas. After the purchase, my husband actually said to me, “Now you don’t have to watch any of those shows anymore.” He meant HGTV shows like Fixer Upper. That man may have been smiling when he said it, and then slightly giggled, but I was so on to him. That’s why he wanted to buy new! He wanted to shut me up once and for all! Dream crusher!

She Makes Us Better: Yes!

The last thing said about Joanna Gaines in the post–“She makes us better”. I think most fans, visitors to the silos in Waco, subscribers to The Magnolia Journal, and now watchers of her TV channel would agree with that. Surely the employees at the Magnolia truly feel that too.

Unfortunately, I still have some growing up to do before I can be bettered. I’m 45, so I’m hoping the transformation is on its way. The truth is, as inspiring as she is–I’m jealous of her. I hate admitting that, but there it is. Since I’m not paying you to listen to me whine, I won’t go into all the things that make me jealous of Joanna Gaines (there’s so much more than I’ve mentioned).  I imagine it’s like having a younger sister who’s doing all the things you’ve ever wanted to do. And, she’s doing them perfectly. Plus, she’s making a living doing at it. So annoying.

My final analysis of the tribute to Joanna Gaines on her April 2020 pandemic birthday is that it was almost 70% accurate. It was only the first part that needed to be revised. Maybe next year the Magnolia will hit 100% if the writers really reflect for a while before they post something. And, despite my jealousy of Mrs. Gaines, I could never accuse of her of being disingenuous. I know she’d want the same from anyone in her circle.

What Do You Want to Be Told on Your Birthday?

I don’t know what you’d like to hear on your birthday, but I hope you get to on your next one. The day I’m told that I made you laugh,  I’ll be happy. I know I’m putting myself in great company with people like Tina Fey, but that’s what I aspire to be, and I believe that’s one reason why I’m here–you know, on the earth. I’m here to ease your melancholy or your bad day with a funny line in a play or in an article or in a blog post.

I’m an Enneagram 7 with a 6 wing (so’s Steve Carell)–that’s how God created me. He created me to always be inspired by what I hear and see and to try and make it funny for you. He allowed me to grow up with parents who didn’t monitor how much television I was viewing (no regrets here). And, more importantly, he allowed me to grow up watching sitcoms like Three’s Company, Laverne & Shirley, Different Strokes, The Facts of Life, The Jefferson’s, Head of the Class, Punky Brewster, Silver Spoons, The Love Boat, and The Golden Girls. Oh! And ton’s of made-for-TV movies–pure gold. My heritage is rich. How could some of that wealth not have filled my pockets?

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